Snowboarding advice please

liam72uk · 19 Jan 2006 at 16:10

Ok guys im going out to austria in March (yeh conditions will probably be carp)and I am looking to buy myself a board, boots and bindings.

I'm not sure what type or which make to go for. It will be my second trip but I am planning to go 2 or 3 times a year from now on.
I will be mainly on the piste (and the **** aswell) but may do some off-piste if the conditions allow.

My height is 5'9 and I weigh around 84kg.

I have also used the forum search function but I think my post is fairly specific.

Any help would be appreciated because my head is spinning :confused:

semi-pro waster · 19 Jan 2006 at 16:19

What sort of level are you in snowboarding? i.e. are you still at the sideslipping stage, have you mastered turning or are you even more advanced that that?

If you have a local shop (and slope) then you might want to see if they will hire you some kit to take up for an afternoon or two as that is the best way to find out what suits.

NickK is quite a good bet to advise you as he seems to know a fair bit. I just snowboard and am decent enough I think but I don't know huge amounts about other snowboards. Also where in Austria are you going?

Borris · 19 Jan 2006 at 17:11

156 - 160 free-ride should suit you well enough.

I posted a link to a guide in this thread.

Alternatively, rent, and find a board that you like. Most rental shops allow you to change even daily.

At the end of your week, make a note of your favourite, and ebay hard.

You could even ask the shop to sell you an end of season board - it may be a bit knackered, but it should be well maintained (edged / ptexed etc.), and it should be fairly cheap.

NickK · 19 Jan 2006 at 18:55

Borris said:
156 - 160 free-ride should suit you well enough.

I posted a link to a guide in this thread.

Alternatively, rent, and find a board that you like. Most rental shops allow you to change even daily.

At the end of your week, make a note of your favourite, and ebay hard.

You could even ask the shop to sell you an end of season board - it may be a bit knackered, but it should be well maintained (edged / ptexed etc.), and it should be fairly cheap.

Agrees. Although I think you'll be at the upper end of that range. Unless you're going to run two boards in a quiver I'd steer away from the extreme end of the freeride boards (ie Burton Fish) as they need the correct conditions. I'm 85Kg and 6'3-4". The Malolo I ride is 162.

To be honest I'd give the hire boards a try as suggested and you'll develop along with the boards until your ready to buy. Worst thing is to buy a beginner board and then find it's restrictive after the end of the first trip!

liam72uk · 19 Jan 2006 at 22:36

My riding ability is at a level that I can link turns easily and at the end of the last trip I was coping with the black runs.

The problem I am finding is choosing the right equipment. There are so many different makes to choose from. Also people are giving me contrasting information.

NickK · 20 Jan 2006 at 08:33

liam72uk said:
My riding ability is at a level that I can link turns easily and at the end of the last trip I was coping with the black runs.

The problem I am finding is choosing the right equipment. There are so many different makes to choose from. Also people are giving me contrasting information.

Ahh paralysis by analysis! You just need a peg in the sand.

Where was your last trip?

liam72uk · 20 Jan 2006 at 16:19

My last trip was to Sauze d`Oulx in Italy and while there I visited Sestriere which has been selected as a Commune for the next Olympic Winter games.

I had the best holiday ever and I'm planning to go to Chamonix after Austria.
What type of gear do you use NickK?

NickK · 21 Jan 2006 at 09:50

liam72uk said:
My last trip was to Sauze d`Oulx in Italy and while there I visited Sestriere which has been selected as a Commune for the next Olympic Winter games.

I had the best holiday ever and I'm planning to go to Chamonix after Austria.
What type of gear do you use NickK?

Ahh not been there - something for another trip at some point

More details about my kit in this thread.

The Malolo has it's bindings set back 5cm, the nose is 2 cm wider than the tail too. Hence it took a day to get used to it compared to normal symetrical boards. The board is stiff to maintain control over powder.

I've been to the Charmonix area but early on in my snowboarding. It's where I started linking my turns into carving motion but still wasn't confident at speed control doing it.